Graduate / Formatting, Approach, and References in Graduate Admissions Application [3]

Greetings,

I'm working on a social policy admissions essay that requests the following

1. A description of a problem of interest and an explanation of how policy might address this problem.

2. Explanation of my short term and long term goals and how this degree will accommodate each.

My long term goals revolve around a JD and not a master's in social policy. I plan to use my topic to describe the interconnectedness of the disciplines and emphasize how a well-rounded background in both will speak to the impact I wish to have in my prospective occupation. I want to leave the reader with the impression that I am so dedicated to addressing the issues on all sides, that I am delaying my legal education by two years in pursuit of this secondary background. What do you think?

In addition, I don't want to address the two requirements in their stated order, but instead want to weave them together and address them in a concurrent manner throughout the entire essay. But I don't want to turn a social policy essay into a legal essay seasoned with a social policy discussion.

Finally, I'm thinking about using references in describing my topic. But I have yet to see any guidelines on using references or whether I should use them at all - by that I don't mean plagiarize but refrain from using "source knowledge" in favor of 'common knowledge.'

Sorry for being vague, I don't want to have my approach pilfered and I'm somehow worried that the reviewers might stumble upon this page. That I recognize the absurdity of both concerns says little of my ability to discount them.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may provide. I'm very excited about writing this essay (I love to write) but the approach is a bit daunting.